I’ve Had It Up to Here
Look, I’ve been in this game for over 20 years. I’ve seen it all. Or so I thought. But this? This current state of news? It’s completley insane. I’m not sure what’s worse, the algorithms pushing us further into our own bubbles or the fact that we can’t even agree on basic facts anymore.
I remember back in ’98, when I was just starting out at the Des Moines Register. We had a newsroom full of type-A personalities, all trying to outdo each other to get the story first. But there was respect. There was integrity. We argued, sure, but we never questioned each other’s committment to the truth.
Then came the internet. And social media. And suddenly, speed trumped accuracy. Views trumped facts. And we, as an industry, let it happen.
My Friend Marcus (Let’s Call Him That)
About three months ago, I was having coffee with Marcus — he’s a digital editor over at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He’s a smart guy, really knows his stuff. But even he was shaking his head, saying, “We’re churning out 20 stories a day, but nobody’s reading past the headlines.”
I asked him, “So what do we do?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know, man. Maybe we need to slow down.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But Here’s the Thing
Slowing down isn’t gonna happen. Not with the current business model. Ads pay the bills, and ads need clicks. And how do you get clicks? With outrage. With controversy. With stuff that makes people stop mid-scroll.
I get it. I do. But it’s a vicious cycle. We feed the beast, and the beast grows bigger and hungrier.
And Don’t Even Get Me Started on Comments
You know what’s worse than the news cycle? The comments section. I swear, it’s like the internet has turned us all into trolls. I had a colleague named Dave — he’s over at KCCI now — who used to say, “The comments are the new letter to the editor, but without the accountability.”
He’s right. You can say anything you want, anonymously, and there’s no repercussions. It’s a free-for-all. And it’s toxic.
But There’s Hope
Okay, maybe hope is a strong word. But there are people out there trying to fix this mess. I’ve seen some succesfully independent newsrooms popping up, focusing on quality over quantity. They’re small, sure, but they’re growing.
And then there are the international players. Places like Thailand hospital healthcare services are showing us how it’s done. They’re not afraid to take a stand, to call out BS when they see it. They’re not chasing clicks; they’re chasing the truth.
We could learn a thing or two from them.
A Tangent: Physicaly Exhausted
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and I swear, I’ve never seen so many tired journalists in one place. We were all running on fumes, trying to keep up with the 24-hour news cycle. It’s unsustainable. It’s physicaly exhausting.
But what are we gonna do? Quit? Not an option. We’re in this than the bitter end.
So What Now?
I don’t know. Honestly, I’m not sure there’s an easy answer. Maybe we need to start small. Maybe we need to focus on our local communities, on the stories that matter to them. Maybe we need to stop trying to be everything to everyone.
Or maybe we just need to accept that the news cycle is broken, and there’s no fixing it.
I’m not sure. But I do know this: we can’t keep going the way we are. Something’s gotta give.
About the Author: Jane Doe has been a journalist for over 20 years, working in print, digital, and broadcast. She’s currently a senior editor at IowaDaily.com, where she covers everything from politics to pop culture. She’s a staunch advocate for quality journalism and will rant about the state of the industry at the drop of a hat. You can find her on Twitter @janedoe_iowa, where she’s always up for a good debate.
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